The expansion of access to mobile telephony and the internet on the African continent has enabled new modes of free expression and access to information, but has also brought about new challenges, such as growing levels of disinformation and a loss of contextual identity and diversity due to the digital monocultures fuelled by the dominant digital platforms.

What: Call for Concept Notes: Amplification Grants Extension
Focus: Contemporary Pan-African Audio Visual Content for Creative Expression in 21^st Century
Where: Southern Africa, Hivos’ Resource of Open Minds (R.O.O.M.) program

With the support of SIDA, Hivos has been supporting young artists, culture and media producers, and creative hubs across East, North and Southern Africa to produce and disseminate critical audio-visual content since 2017 through the Resource of Open Minds (R.O.O.M.) program. With this renewed collaboration in this second phase, we aim to work towards the objective of contributing to progressive, diversified and critical dialogue, debate and dissent in African societies.

Call summary

Hivos (Southern Africa) is seeking concept notes from registered artistic collectives, creative hubs, and groups of content creators in the audio-visual sector in order to support the production of more consciously independent and self-sufficient makers, who create more critical, African cultural, media and intellectual productions, reach a wider and more diverse African audience and have an increased capacity to promote gender inclusivity, economic class diversity, and local accessibility and ownership in facilitating African cultural and media productions.

This open call is directed to registered entities that have grown their capacity to manage long-term grants and have carried at least one project audit currently based in the following Southern African countries: Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Besides artistic imagination, the production of Afrocentric/ Pan-African independent and conscious work that challenges or questions norms in society will be an important factor in the awarding of grants.

Eligibility criteria for applicants

This call is primarily directed to:

1. Registered and previously audited entities that are, or are representing communities and networks of young makers, i.e., physical and virtual spaces in which they can safely work, collaborate, and produce critical content in the audio-visual sector such as creative spaces, groups of artists, music studios, hubs, cafés, art spaces, art galleries, independent production houses, networks of artists and producers, online platforms, collectives, co-working spaces focusing on the creative industry.

2. Entities with experience and a traceable portfolio of working with content producers that are working in one or more of the following audio-visual sectors:

• Graphic design
• Fashion design
• Comics / cartoons
• Animation
• Poetry / slam poetry / spoken word
• Storytelling
• Music rap / Hip hop
• DJ
• VJ
• Radio shows/ radio series / pod-casts / community radios
• TV show / TV series/ online channels
• Short film / video
• Feature film / documentary
• Video blog
• Visual art (painting, drawing, printmaking, digital art)
• Sculpture (objects)
• Mixed media installations
• Performance Virtual reality
• Videogame

3. Entities that make use of digital means (online platforms) to strategically distribute their content to their audiences. (i.e., through Social Media) with record of measurable audience engagement. Entities are strongly encouraged to coordinate with offline digital platforms e.g. community radios to increase reach in remote / marginalized communities.

4. Entities that produce content/work that aims to show alternative viewpoints on big issues affecting society that challenges or question certain norms in society and promote Pan-African social progress. This content/work should challenge and examine repressive norms and tendencies within African societies, question the status quo and hegemonic power in society, and show alternative perspectives and points of view.

Eligible countries

Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Amount

The requested amount should be not less than EUR 20,000 and not more than EUR 30,000 over a 7 to 8-month period.

NB: Remotely located hubs and entities representing marginalized groups, e.g., low-income communities, gender minorities and women, are encouraged to apply.

Collaboration is greatly encouraged among entities for effective implementation and impact.

How the concept notes will be reviewed and processed

The following are the steps that Hivos Southern Africa will undertake to review the concept notes and determine the awarding of grants:

Step 1: Submission of concept notes; Deadline 12 June 2023, 1700 hours CAT.

Step 2: Selection of received concepts by a Hivos Southern Africa grants selection committee: Thursday, 15 June 2023

Step 3: Pitch selection interviews of shortlisted applicants: Monday, 19 June 2023

Step 4: Desktop capacity assessments of selected applicants on organizational and financial eligibility: Thursday, 22 June 2023. (Grant Recipients will be notified shortly after).

Step 5: Co-creation process with Hivos team of the final proposal/ activities Monday, 26 June 2023.

Step 6: Contracting: 30 June 2023.

Format of concept notes

Applications are accepted in English. The concept notes must be no more than 4 pages using this Call for Concept Notes form template.

Deadline and other requirements

The submission deadline is 12 June 2023, 1700 hours CAT.

Applicants must ensure that their concept notes are in Word or pdf format and are clearly marked with the title ‘Amplification Grants- Call for Concepts: Creative Expression in 21^st Century Southern Africa’. All applications must be sent to the following email address: proposals.hubsaf@hivos.org   

Please note: Previous applicants need not reapply. However, applicants who need to refine their previous proposals may make necessary amendments and reapply.